Theater & Drama Degree in Anaheim, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Anaheim, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.3 yrs
in Anaheim
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Anaheim, CA Overview
Anaheim, California (pop. 350,365) has 19 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,729/month. Although national enrollment in Theater & Drama has been declining, graduates with skills in Acting and Directing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Anaheim is approximately $46,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
19
Public Tuition
$6,920/yr
Private Tuition
$37,099/yr
Room & Board
$16,938/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,487/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
53%
Theater & Drama Salary in Anaheim (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Anaheim's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Anaheim adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Anaheim
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Anaheim tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,920 | Private avg: $37,099
Anaheim avg aid: $11,487/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,850
vs HS diploma in Anaheim
ROI Payback Period
16.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Anaheim
$-1,832
Lifetime earnings premium ($93,600) minus total education cost ($95,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Anaheim
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Anaheim for Theater & Drama
Cal State Fullerton
public
$6,920/yr
$27,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fullerton College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Anaheim
Anaheim offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Anaheim Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Anaheim
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Anaheim — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Theater & Drama ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Anaheim.